Covid-19 Journey Through Facebook Posts

Hi,

I’ve been struggling with ‘suspected’ Covid-19 for over 8 weeks, I posted about my Covid-19 experience on my personal Facebook page in the hope that it would educate friends who are medical professionals about the virus but also help friends who may develop the illness in future so they know what to expect. As the weeks go by now with more and more GP phonecalls, it’s also a good memory prompt as to what symptoms I did or didn’t have. Some days, I posted more than once to show symptom fluctuation, I have numbered them where appropriate.

Because posts are copied and pasted from my personal page, I will apologise in advance for the low-level obscenities I used sparingly.

Here we go!

23rd March – Day 1.

Started to feel unwell after dinner, felt very week and headed to BED at around 7pm.

24th March – Day 2

  1. It’s so hard to tell if I am going through an M.E flare, normal flu or COVID19 today.

Staying in bed.

Sore throat, chills, joint pain, headache- all of which I get with M.E but to a lesser degree normally.

I do feel like my body is fighting something though and my chest doesn’t feel ‘right’. Acid reflux and occasional sharp abdo pain are also happening. I assumed it was diet related but 🤔

It’s a mystery.

 

2. Temp is now 99.4

Not worryingly high but it’s UP.

Also lost my appetite, something my hips are grateful for.

 

25th March- Day 3

  1. I’ve woken up feeling ‘ok’ today.

GI issues are continuing though. Sporadic sharp pain and acid reflux.

I’m keeping everything crossed that there was an alternative explanation for how I felt for the past day and a half.

Temperature is normal.

It wasn’t M.E ‘payback’. It was ‘new’. Maybe a 24hr bug? 🤷‍♀️

Only time will tell I guess.

 

2.   For goodness sake.

Temp back up slightly.

At least I managed to get dressed today 💪

 

3.   I now have THE cough.

 

26th March – Day 4

I’ve noticed I’m ‘ok’ when I wake up every day but symptoms hit within 5 minutes.

I’m assuming that’s because I’m moving around a little bit.

Update- cough has lessened but chest aches. Fluey feeling is constant. Symptoms are yo-yoing.

 

27th March – Day 5

Update

I’ve just phoned 111 and will receive a call from the local COVID-19 ‘task force’ around 9am.

Most symptoms have eased but I’m concerned about the ache/dull pain in my lungs/breathlessness.

Temp still up and down
Got occasional dry cough- not persistent
Chest aches/dull pain
Lots and lots of sleeping
Spoke to dr today- COVID-19 ‘Highly likely’.
Separated from mum and dad since Monday.

 

28th March – Day 6

Paracetamol is my best friend at the moment.

Even the massive round ones that make me gag if I forget to split them in half 🤢

This semi-temperature that comes and goes can piss off now.

 

31st March –  Day 9

I’m grouchy today.

Can this ‘raised’ but not high temperature (99.6 today) piss off now…….please?

I’d love to be able to self-isolate in our house rather than one room on my own!

Gov advice- quarantine/isolate for 7 days.

Common sense- quarantine until temp back to normal.

 

1 April –  Day 10

Facebook Video

 

5th April – Day 14

Hopefully my last day of ‘keeping my virus to myself’. Temp still being odd.

 

6th April – Day 15

Phoned 111 offered callback.

Temp has gone after 14 days🤞 but chest pain/intermittent cough remains

 

7th April – Day 16

  1. To everyone who is asking how I am.

– Still have painful lungs
– Still breathy
– Temp finally settled yesterday after 15 days
– Phoned 111 yesterday, offered callback
– I was called back 10hrs later after 11pm
– I was asleep and missed it
– I won’t be calling 111 again (they are far too busy)
– Assuming I can come out of quarantine now as temp has gone (that was 1 question for 111)
– Still resting but up and about the house a bit.

That is all.

 

2.       -Phoned 111 again.
-Call handler was concerned
-Clinician called- was concerned
– GP out of hrs – you have an underlying health condition, it’ll take much longer to recover.

I know that.

I was phoning because my lungs HURT and my breathing isn’t right, not because I expect to feel ‘better’.

Told me to rest (I do that A LOT already) and drink lots (I do that already).

Can anyone tell me if I’m still contagious? I thought I had escaped my four walls today but Dr has told me I may be contagious even now my temp has gone.

 

11 April – Day 20

Feeling sorry for myself.

Lungs are VERY painful today.

Burning/searing hot pain.

Been told I am ‘improving’ so not looking for advice.

 

12th April – Day 21

Day 21 for me.

The ‘fluey’ element of COVID19 flared up again yesterday and I also had the associated stomach upset/pains. Lung pain continues.

It certainly lingers.

Still quarantining.

 

April 16th – Day 25

I felt less ‘lung-y’ today (I know that’s not a word), I’ve have been absolutely knackered all day.

But literally 30 mins ago the painful breathing came back. Having to pant a little bit.

Feeling sorry for myself.

Please send love, hugs or chocolate.

Thanks x

 

17th April – Day 26

  1. I’ve been asked a few times why I am still quarantining 26 days after my symptoms started. Here’s why:

I had a raised temperature for 14 days.
We are told to self-isolate for 14 days after symptoms ended, I’m assuming that’s when the temperature goes back to normal.

On day 15 I spoke to most of the medical people that I know personally and asked when I would stop being contagious.

No one knew (because it is a new virus).

I still have the fatigue/lung pain but these could last for a long time yet.

Because I live with elderly parents (my Dad hates that term!!) and because viruses behave a bit differently when you have M.E, I am being extra cautious and hyper-sensible.

You can’t die from boredom and I’m looking forward to FREEDOM to roam around the rest of the house on Monday!

 

2,    Speaking to my GP today for the first time since my ‘suspected’ Covid-19 started.

Just want to check the lung pain and get advice.

Receptionist- ‘Have you been positively tested for Covid?….’

Me, ‘um…. no but 111 said very highly likely going by my symptoms’

Has ANYONE who hasn’t gone to hospital been tested?

 

3.    Spoken to GP via video call.

Suspects infection in lungs.

Antibiotics here I come.

Comprehensive check up= reassured.

Grateful for Mum’s blood pressure machine!

 

19th April  – Day 28.

My last day in COVID19 quarantine!!

Still got lung issues but am not contagious (14 days since temp buggered off).

Whooooooooop!!

Yes, I will still be being careful and resting but it’ll be nice to spend time with other humans in my house!

 

20th April – Day 29

  1. Uh oh.

11.08am and I’m already out of energy.

I have trimmed the fur on all of Maggie’s feet with scissors (slowly and gently while on my bed) and ordered dog nail clippers and a grooming set online.

That’s it.

Now feeling extra rough, slightly nauseous and in pain (lungs).

Time to sleep.

Night night zzz

 

2.     I learned something tonight.

Sitting upright in a chair hurts my lungs and makes breathing harder.

I may be out of quarantine but I am back reclining on BED.

 

22nd April – Day 31

This lung pain can **** off.

It’s hurting so much my eyes are leaking.

Breathing like a 50 a day smoker.

Yes, I am fed up

 

23rd April – Day 32

Ill

Floppy

Sleepy

Weak

Nauseous

In pain

Grumpy

Not the 7 dwarves but how I’m feeling today.

 

25th April – Day 34

Played with Maggie for a minute.

Uh oh.

Now very breathless and having to deep breathe.

Lungs still not good.

Long term crap I think.

Great.

 

26th April – Day 35

*Pant*
*Pant*
*Pant*

Translated: I’ve just popped downstairs to make a drink. I am now having breathing difficulties caused by climbing a flight of stairs.

🤬

 

27th April – Day 36

I have been able to think straight for the first time in 5 weeks today.

Nearly fog-free!

No P.E.M or Covid-19 today.

Whoop!!

Being cautious, still not moving about much.

Lungs are still very iffy.

 

30 April – Day 39

FREEDOM!!!

I have just set foot outside our forecourt for the first time in 6 weeks!

I ‘walked Maggie’ to the postbox (1 minute away) and back again.

Bless her, she pulled the whole way thinking we were going to the park. Sorry Mags, not this time.

Didn’t come into 6 ft radius of any humans but still washed my hands when I got back indoors lol.

 

3rd May – Day 42

Maggie went for her first walk in 6 weeks.

I went for my first walk in 6 weeks

We walked to ‘grass’ and ‘around the block’ together.

I wanted to test my lungs and see how they are doing. No breathlessness during or after our bimble 😊

Progress.

I’ll be resting for the rest of the day.

Just started 2nd course of antibiotics for persistent lung pain.

 

7th May – Day 46

Unwell.

Headache
Stomach pain- same as in week 1 of covid.
Hot but no temp.
Ache all over
Slightly shivering
Glands UP.
Lungs hurt

Fed up- that’s a symptom, right?!

 

May 10 – Day 49

My lungs hurt.

I am going to drown my sorrows with Baileys (I had one).

Which means I’ll also have pain in my stomach tomorrow but I am past caring.

Calling GP again tomorrow.

Breathing hurts

 

May 11 – Day 50.

GP could ‘hear’ inflammation in my right lung.

Been given 3rd course of antibiotics.

If no better in 10 days they will send me for a chest x-ray.

Heart ok

 

May 13 – Day 52

It’s a low mood day.

Covid flared again last night, most symptoms came back (no raised temp).

Lungs are ****ing painful.

Cancelled everything planned for today (hospital appt and online meeting).

I have also now developed a rash.

GP not sure if covid or reaction to antibiotics. Picking up steroid cream tomorrow.

Never ****ing ending.

Fed up. Pissed off with life in general today.

Photos of furbabys or jokes please.

 

14th May – Day 53

Hmm.

As of yesterday afternoon I have pins & needles/nerve twitch/nerve pain in my right hand.

Anything else want to go wrong with my body?

I’m waiting…..

What’s next?!

 

15th May – Day 54

I have an appt in a car park to get my oxygen saturation levels checked (Level was 98 and fine)

Also been referred for an ‘urgent’ chest x-ray.

Happy Friday!

 

17th May – Day 56

Update – still have a splitting headache (temporary reprieve ATM) and feeling weak.

Now on rest, Vit D and probiotics (Because of the impact 3 courses of antibiotics will have had on my gut health)so fingers crossed I start to feel the benefit soon.

 

18th May – Day 57

https://www.facebook.com/sally.callow.9/videos/10164060225240657/

 

19th May – Day 58

My ‘urgent’ chest x-ray is scheduled for Saturday morning.

8 days after the ‘urgent’ referral was submitted.

My lungs are PAINFUL today, it’s going to be a lonnnnng wait

 

TODAY Day 59.

I spoke to my GP again this morning as I am concerned that I’m having no treatment for my lungs while I wait for the chest x-ray. GP said she believes I have contracted the virus in the past week or so and wants me to take a Covid-19 test, I said my temperature has risen to 37.8 a couple of times in recent weeks. She does not think what I have had for the past 8 weeks was Covid-19. She recommended that I take Ibruprofen for the lung pain, I queried whether I should due to the rumours of Ibruprofen causing problems and she said those rumours have been ‘debunked’.

 

What I think is going on.

I HAVE had Covid-19 for the past 8 weeks, however like many thousands of other people this virus is lingering for a long time. It is causing my temperature to rise up to 37.8 occasionally but usually, it sits around 36.9. I don’t feel ‘fluey’ today, no headache, or temperature. My only concern today is that my lungs feel damaged.

I have requested a Covid-19 home test kit to rule out having the virus NOW, it’s too late to test to see if I had it 8 weeks ago but a future antibody test may shed light on if I have ever had it.

I will be getting my chest x-rayed on Saturday, nurses will check my temperature before I head into the building so even if I believed myself to be contagious (I don’t), I would be refused an x-ray if my temperature was 37.8 or above.

 

Where my head is at right now.

My head feels like it’s going to explode due to the misinformation and confusion. I spent at least a month being told that I couldn’t have Covid-19 because I didn’t have a ‘fever’, I had a raised temperature but it never went over 99.8c. Today, my GP has said she believes I HAVE Covid-19 now because my temperature occasionally hits 37.8c. I know how my M.E body fluctuates and I know that my temperature has its own ‘normal’ range, I am not concerned that my temperature has hit 37.8 a few times over the past week or so.

Mental health-wise, I am struggling. I am sick of being sick, even more so than usual. I feel like I’m having to go around in circles to try and get the help I need and the hurdles that have to be overcome are exhausting. The lack of understanding about the potential chronic nature of recovery for ‘mild’ Covid-19 patients is upsetting me too. Yet again, I’m in the percentage of people who medics say ‘should’ have recovered but haven’t. History has repeated itself.

Keep safe,

Sally